The correct answer is it can be very important. For watercolours, for instance, you have three main types. "Rough," "Hot Pressed", known as HP like the sauce, and "Not" or "Cold Pressed". So, what do we know about them?
If, all this is new to you I would recommend "Not". Simply because it is a smooth paper, not really textured, as when it is made, it is pressed through rollers that are cold.
If you have small detailed work, a textured paper really is what you need. "HP" would be my choice as it is nice and smooth as it has been pressed through hot rollers, like an iron in fact. Washes do not hold very well on this, so I wouldn't even try to do one.
Rough is a very well textured paper which can be very effective as the paint does not always reach the raised surface. Probably not good for a beginner to use though.
You can also stretch paper yourself, but you need to know how. If paper is wet, it does stretch, but not usually so that it will be equal the four ways. So you can have problems with wrinkling!
Here I will explain how to stretch paper. This you should always do first. Collect together the following items. A smallish bowl with water in, a natural sponge, scissors, plus brown gummed paper on the roll.
Cut four strips of the gummed paper, making sure that they are longer than the four sides of your paper. Then you need to, with your sponge, wet it completely in the bowl and in turn, wet your paper.
On a flat surface you need to start to flatten it out to get your smooth surface with the side of your hand. You need to start from the centre and move outwards. After this, tape all four sides down with your gummed strips.
At this stage it may worry you by still looking wrinkled, but if you leave the paper to dry naturally it will dry flat. Now, the surface you paint on, is called the support. For watercolours this is easy to buy, cheap and light.
The support used is very important for your work. You will find this out, for instance, when you see whether your brush moves well over it, if the paint works well on it and also if it remains on the surface.
Various choices are are at hand in our shops. Ready stretched pads which have glue all round. Ready perforated and spiralled pads with hard backs, or simply just sold by the sheet. These are what you have to choose from for watercolours.
Paper comes in different grades by weight. If the paper is heavy it will take water well, whereas if it is light, it will wrinkle and get distorted. Heavy papers are a joy to work with, but are expensive.
Various choices are are at hand in our shops. Ready stretched pads which have glue all round. Ready perforated and spiralled pads with hard backs, or simply just sold by the sheet. These are what you have to choose from for watercolours.
If, all this is new to you I would recommend "Not". Simply because it is a smooth paper, not really textured, as when it is made, it is pressed through rollers that are cold.
If you have small detailed work, a textured paper really is what you need. "HP" would be my choice as it is nice and smooth as it has been pressed through hot rollers, like an iron in fact. Washes do not hold very well on this, so I wouldn't even try to do one.
Rough is a very well textured paper which can be very effective as the paint does not always reach the raised surface. Probably not good for a beginner to use though.
You can also stretch paper yourself, but you need to know how. If paper is wet, it does stretch, but not usually so that it will be equal the four ways. So you can have problems with wrinkling!
Here I will explain how to stretch paper. This you should always do first. Collect together the following items. A smallish bowl with water in, a natural sponge, scissors, plus brown gummed paper on the roll.
Cut four strips of the gummed paper, making sure that they are longer than the four sides of your paper. Then you need to, with your sponge, wet it completely in the bowl and in turn, wet your paper.
On a flat surface you need to start to flatten it out to get your smooth surface with the side of your hand. You need to start from the centre and move outwards. After this, tape all four sides down with your gummed strips.
At this stage it may worry you by still looking wrinkled, but if you leave the paper to dry naturally it will dry flat. Now, the surface you paint on, is called the support. For watercolours this is easy to buy, cheap and light.
The support used is very important for your work. You will find this out, for instance, when you see whether your brush moves well over it, if the paint works well on it and also if it remains on the surface.
Various choices are are at hand in our shops. Ready stretched pads which have glue all round. Ready perforated and spiralled pads with hard backs, or simply just sold by the sheet. These are what you have to choose from for watercolours.
Paper comes in different grades by weight. If the paper is heavy it will take water well, whereas if it is light, it will wrinkle and get distorted. Heavy papers are a joy to work with, but are expensive.
Various choices are are at hand in our shops. Ready stretched pads which have glue all round. Ready perforated and spiralled pads with hard backs, or simply just sold by the sheet. These are what you have to choose from for watercolours.
About the Author:
Want to find more interesting "How To" guides such as this one? Anna Meenaghan, the author of this guide and also a contemporary artist, runs a online art gallery where she also offers help for artists and art enthusiasts alike. As a contemporary painter I found it of great benefit to myself. Comment by Michael Bruckner.
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